Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 135

Devī-tattva, Śakti–Śaktimān doctrine, Kāla–Māyā cosmology, and Māheśvara Yoga instruction

Devanagari script

जगत्प्रिया जगन्मूर्तिस्त्रिमूर्तिरमृताश्रया / निराश्रया निराहारा निरङ्कुरवनोद्भवा

Transliteration

jagatpriyā jaganmūrtistrimūrtiramṛtāśrayā / nirāśrayā nirāhārā niraṅkuravanodbhavā

Translation

Amada do mundo, cuja forma é o universo; a Uma que aparece como a Trimūrti. Firmada na imortalidade—e, no entanto, dependente de nada; sem apoio, sem alimento; sem causa, como uma floresta que surge sem semente.

Word by Word

• जगत्प्रिया: beloved of the world
• जगत्प्रिया: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जगत् + प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘जगतः प्रिया’ (beloved of the world)

• जगन्मूर्तिः: embodiment of the world
• जगन्मूर्तिः: विशेषण/नाम
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘जगतः मूर्तिः’ (embodiment/form of the world)

• त्रिमूर्तिः: three-formed; triadic form
• त्रिमूर्तिः: विशेषण/नाम
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘त्रयः मूर्तयः यस्याः/त्रिविधा मूर्तिः’

• अमृताश्रया: refuge/support of immortality (nectar)
• अमृताश्रया: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत + आश्रया (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रि (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘अमृतस्य आश्रया’ (having/being the refuge of immortality/nectar)

• निराश्रया: without dependence; supportless
• निराश्रया: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + आश्रया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग/निपात-पूर्वक—‘आश्रयरहित’ (without support)

• निराहारा: without food; fasting
• निराहारा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + आहारा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘आहाररहित’ (without food/intake)

• निरङ्कुरवनोद्भवा: arising in a sproutless forest (spontaneous, uncaused)
• निरङ्कुरवनोद्भवा: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + अङ्कुर + वन + उद्भवा (प्रातिपदिक; √भू (धातु) से)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘निरङ्कुरे वने उद्भवा’ (arising in a sproutless forest; figurative: uncaused/spontaneous)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Ishvara
• Trimurti
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

It presents the Supreme as the cosmos itself (jaganmūrti) while remaining self-established and independent (nirāśrayā), indicating an immanent-yet-transcendent Reality beyond causal dependence.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-style contemplation on Īśvara’s self-sufficiency—meditating on the Lord as unsupported (nirāśraya) and not sustained by any external “food” (nirāhāra), cultivating disidentification from dependence and grasping.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

By calling the Supreme “trimūrti,” it frames Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva as manifestations of one Īśvara, aligning with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava unity within the Ishvara Gita teaching.